Clothing

ABSTRACT

A garment serves for easy removal of dirt adhering to the screen of a smart watch, wristwatch, etc. worn by the user. The garment is one used as long-sleeved outerwear provided with a sheet-like article formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less and attached to the inside and/or outside of a cuff.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to clothing and, specifically, a garment having a function suitable for wiping off dirt adhering to a screen of a smart watch, a wrist watch or the like.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, wristwatch-type wearable devices called smart watches have been developed and rapidly come into widespread use. Smart watches can communicate with other devices such as a smart phone. With various functions, they are expected to come into wider use in the future.

To use a smart watch, it is put on the wrist of an arm like a wristwatch and operated by directly touching the screen, which works as a touch panel, with a finger of the other arm.

However, since the screen is manipulated directly with a finger, there may occur problems including adherence of sebum or the like to the screen, to stain it easily and make the screen difficult to read or make it look unattractive. To remove such adhered dirt, users may use cleaning cloth for eyeglass or the like to wipe it off or rub it against clothes or the like they wear.

Wiping with a cleaning cloth for eyeglass or the like is an easy way to remove dirt, but the user has to always carry cleaning cloth and it is inconvenient. Removing dirt by wiping it with the garment that the user wears causes problems including making the garment dirty, failing to clean the dirt completely depending on the material of the garment, and the act of wiping with a garment is unsightly.

Thus, currently there is no effective way to easily clean and remove dirt adhering to the screen of a smart watch or the like.

Conventionally, there has been a proposal of a detachable patch for clothes that is attached to the inside of an open part of the collar or a cuff of a garment that can easily catch grime when coming in contact with the skin (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. HEI 8-325802).

There is another proposal that offers an adhesive-coated cloth that can be attached to a neck portion or a wrist portion of a long-sleeved shirt or a wrist watch or the like to prevent sweat absorption and a rash, preventing the garment from being damaged, or deodorizing it (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. HEI 9-137388).

A shirt having a detachable collar or the like has also been proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-11701). The collar, which may include the neckband, can be attached to and detached from the main part of the shirt.

There is still another proposal that presents a garment having an article of a water-absorbing material attached to the outer surface of a cuff or the outer surface of a front part of the garment and that can be stretched to the face of the wearer (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2008-75233).

All such conventional proposals, however, are intended for dirt on the skin, face and the like of the wearer and not for easy and clean removal of dirt adhering on the screen of a device such as smart watch as described above.

Thus, it could be helpful to provide a garment that serves for easy removal of dirt adhering to the screen of a smart watch or the like worn by the user.

SUMMARY

We thus provide:

-   -   A garment used as outerwear provided with a sheet-like article         formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter         of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less and attached to the inside         and/or outside of a cuff.     -   The sheet-like article may be attached to only the inside of a         cuff and the material of the garment is different from that of         the sheet-like article.     -   The sheet-like article may be of a nonwoven fabric having the         ultrafine fibers and containing a polymeric elastomer in the         interior thereof.     -   The polymeric elastomer may be one containing polyurethane as         primary component and the polyurethane is a polycarbonate based         polyurethane.     -   The sheet-like article may have a function for wiping off dirt.

We provide a garment provided with a sheet-like article having ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less and attached to the inside and/or outside of a cuff to serve to wipe off dirt adhering to the screen of a smart watch, wristwatch or the like, of the wearer, thereby eliminating the need to carry a cleaning cloth and the need for wiping with the garment worn and enabling easy and clean removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph to substitute a drawing showing a shirt provided on the inside of a cuff with a sheet-like article formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 2 μm.

FIG. 2 is a photograph to substitute a drawing showing a jacket provided on the outside of a cuff with a sheet-like article formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 2 μm.

EXPLANATION OF NUMERALS

-   1: shirt -   2: jacket -   3: sheet-like article attached to the inside of a cuff -   4: sheet-like article attached to the outside of a cuff

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The garment is used as outerwear provided with a sheet-like article formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less and attached to the inside and/or outside of a cuff.

It is important for the garment to be provided on a cuff with a sheet-like article having ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less. By rubbing the screen of a smart watch, wristwatch or the like with the sheet-like article provided on a cuff, dirt adhering to the screen can be removed easily and cleanly.

It is important for the sheet-like article to be attached to the inside and/or outside of a cuff.

If the sheet-like article is attached to the inside of a cuff, it is possible for the screen of a smart watch or the like to be wiped by the cuff on the same side as the smart watch. If the sheet-like article is attached to the outside of a cuff, on the other hand, it is possible for the screen of a smart watch to be wiped by the cuff of the sleeve opposite to the arm carrying the smart watch. Whether the sheet-like article is to be attached to the inside and/or outside of a cuff can be decided appropriately considering the type and design of the garment.

FIG. 1 shows a shirt provided on the inside of a cuff with a sheet-like article formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 2 μm. A sheet-like article 3 formed of ultrafine fibers is provided on the entire inside part of the left cuff of a shirt 1 used as outerwear, and dirt on the screen of a smart watch carried on the left wrist (not shown in FIG. 1) can be wiped off easily by rubbing it with the sheet-like article 3. In FIG. 1, a sheet-like article is attached only to the inside of the left cuff, but a sheet-like article may be attached only to the right cuff or to both cuffs, or it may be attached to the outside of a cuff.

FIG. 2 shows a jacket provided on the outside of a cuff with a sheet-like article formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 2 μm. A sheet-like article 4 with a length of 4 cm formed of ultrafine fibers is provided on the outside of the right cuff of a jacket 2 used as outerwear, and dirt on the screen of a smart watch carried on the left wrist can be wiped off easily by rubbing it with the sheet-like article 4. In FIG. 2, a sheet-like article is attached only to the outside of the right cuff, but a sheet-like article may be attached only to the left cuff or to both cuffs, or it may be attached to the inside of a cuff.

It is preferable for the sheet-like article to be colored by dyeing. The design properties of the garment carrying the sheet-like article will not be deteriorated by coloring, and the color to be used for dyeing may be selected appropriately according to the design.

The sheet-like article attached to the garment becomes dirty as it is used to remove dirt from the screen of a smart watch, wristwatch or the like by rubbing it, but repeated use is made possible by washing or the like.

Useful methods of attaching the sheet-like article to a cuff include, for example, fixing the sheet-like article by sewing with a thread and buttoning up in a detachable manner, and an appropriate method may be selected depending on the type of the garment. More specifically, the sheet-like article may be attached in a detachable manner in the case of jackets or the like that are not washed frequently, allowing the sheet-like article to be detached when becoming dirty and re-attached to the cuff after washing. It may also be attached in a permanently fixed manner in the case of such garments as shirts that are washed frequently.

With respect to the shape of the sheet-like article to be attached to the garment, it may have a shape that enables attachment to only a part facing the back of a hand so that the sheet-like article comes in contact only with the screen of a smart watch, a ring like shape that enables attachment around a cuff, or a rectangular, circular, star-like, or heart-like shape or the like, of which an appropriate one may be selected to meet the design of the garment. When attached only to a part of a cuff, it is preferable for the sheet-like article to have a width of 1 cm or more. The length of the sheet-like article from the cuff towards the shoulder is preferably 1 cm or more and 10 cm or less. It is only required to have a length that enables wiping of the smart watch, and the cost will increase if it is too long. If it is attached to the outside of a cuff, an appropriate size may be selected to meet the design the garment.

It is preferable for the sheet-like article to have a thickness of 0.4 mm or more and 2 mm or less. A thickness of 0.4 mm or more ensures physical properties required to resist wearing and wiping whereas a thickness of 2 mm or less ensures comfortable wearing.

It is important for the fibers used to form the sheet-like article attached to the garment to have an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less. High wiping performance, a soft feel to the skin, and comfortable wearing are achieved if the average mono-filament diameter is 7 μm or less, preferably 5 μm or less, and more preferably 4 μm or less.

On the other hand, controlling the average monofilament diameter at 0.1 μm or more, preferably 0.7 μm or more, and more preferably 1 μm or more, ensures high post-dyeing color development performance.

Such ultrafine fibers used to form the sheet-like article attached to the garment may be of such materials as polyesters including polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate, and polylactic acid; polyamides including 6-nylon and 66-nylon; and other various synthetic fiber materials including acrylic, polyethylene, polypropylene, and thermoplastic cellulose.

In particular, polyester fibers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polytrimethylene terephthalate are particular preferred from the viewpoint of wear resistance, dimensional stability, and dyeing properties. From the viewpoint of environment protection, fibers derived from recycled material or plant-derived material may be used. Furthermore, they may contain ultrafine fibers of different materials.

It is also preferable for the polymer used as material of such ultrafine fibers to contain inorganic particles such as titanium oxide particles and additives such as lubricant, pigment, thermal stabilizer, ultraviolet absorber, electrically conductive agent, heat storage agent, and antibacterial agent to meet various purposes.

With respect to the cross-sectional shape of the ultrafine fibers, those having a circular cross section shape will work satisfactorily, but ultrafine fibers having modified cross-section shapes such as elliptic, flattened, polygonal such as triangular, fan-like, and crossed may be adopted to ensure high wiping performance.

The sheet-like article may be in the form of nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, knitted fabric or the like, of which an appropriate one may be adopted, but it is preferably in the form of nonwoven fabric because of being free from fraying during cutting and having a comfortable feel to the touch.

The nonwoven fabric may be either short fiber nonwoven fabric or long fiber nonwoven fabric, but the use of short fiber nonwoven fabric is preferred because of easy untangling of the nap, which influences the wiping performance.

Woven fabric, knitted fabric or the like may be inserted in the nonwoven fabric with the aim of improving the strength.

When using a nonwoven fabric, a polymeric elastomer containing polyurethane as primary component may be added to the nonwoven fabric to ensure firm holding of the shape. An elastic polymer is a stretchable polymeric compound having rubber elasticity and major elastic polymers include polyurethane, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), and acrylic resin. The term “primary component” used herein means that the polyurethane component accounts for more than 50 mass % of the total mass of the elastic polymer.

The use of an elastic polymer containing polyurethane as primary component produces a sheet-like article having a solid feel to the touch and practically durable physical properties.

There are various types of polyurethane including organic solvent-soluble ones that are used in a state of being dissolved in an organic solvent and water-dispersible ones that are used in a state of being dispersed in water, both of which can work.

Polyurethane obtained by reaction of a polymer diol, an organic diisocyanate, and a chain extending agent is preferred as the polyurethane component to be used.

For example, a polycarbonate-based, polyester-based, polyether-based, silcone-based, or fluorine-based diol can be used as the aforementioned polymer diol, and a copolymer of a combination thereof can also be used. The sheet-like article attachable to the garment is designed for removal of dirt adhering to the screen of a smart watch and, accordingly, it catches dirt such as sebum more easily than the cuff portions of common garments and undergoes washing more frequently than common garments since the sheet-like article can be detached and washed repeatedly as it catches dirt. Thus, the use of a polycarbonate based polymer diol is preferable from the viewpoint of durability.

A polycarbonate based diol as described above can be produced, for example, through ester exchange reaction between alkylene glycol and ester carbonate or through reaction of phosgene or a chloroformate with alkylene glycol.

Examples of the alkylene glycol include linear alkylene glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,5-pentane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, 1,9-nonane diol, and 1,10-decane diol; branched alkylene glycols such as neopentyl glycol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentane diol, 2,4-diethyl-1,5-pentane diol, and 2-methyl-1,8-octane diol; alicyclic diols such as 1,4-cyclohexane diol; aromatic diols such as bisphenol A; and others such as glycerin, trimethylol propane, and pentaerythritol. Either a polycarbonate based diol produced from a single alkylene glycol or a copolymerized polycarbonate based diol produced from two or more types of alkylene glycols can be used.

The content of the elastic polymer can be adjusted appropriately considering the type, texture, and physical properties of the polyurethane used. The content of the elastic polymer is preferably 10 mass % or more and 100 mass % or less, and more preferably 20 mass % or more and 50 mass % or less, relative to the ultrafine fibers in the sheet-like article.

The sheet-like article to be attached the garment may contain, for example, dyes, pigments, softening agent, texture adjustor, pilling prevention agent, antibacterial agent, deodorant, water repellent agent, light resisting agent, or weathering agent.

The sheet-like article to be attached to the garment preferably has gigging (nap) of ultrafine fibers over the surface of the sheet-like article from the viewpoint of improved wiping performance and feel to the touch. The nap preferably has a length of 50 μm or more and 400 μm or less. A nap length of 50 μm or more ensures improved dirt wiping performance whereas a nap length of 400 μm or less ensures prevention of fuzz from dropping while the garment is worn.

Furthermore, the sheet-like article can be treated with finishing agents including softening agent such as silicone, and antistatic agent.

The garment is worn on the upper half of the body and may be categorized as an upper garment. Attaching the sheet-like article to a cuff of an upper garment serves for easy wiping of dirt on the screen of a smart watch worn on the wrist. Accordingly, it is preferable for the garment to have long sleeves. However, there are devices wearable on the upper arm and a short-sleeved garment may be better for such a wearable device. It may be three-quarter sleeved or wrist-sleeved.

There are overalls-like garments that combine trousers and a jacket, and the sheet-like article can be attached to a cuff of such a garment.

Preferably, the garment is provided with the sheet-like article only on the inside of a cuff and the garment itself is of a material that is different from that of the sheet-like article. The advantageous effect can be realized in a variety of garments of various materials including jackets, shirts, T-shirts, sweat shirts, wind breakers, and blousons, with no limitations on design.

The sheet-like article to be attached to the garment preferably has the function of wiping off dirt. The sheet-like article to be attached has ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less and accordingly must have a high dirt removal performance, but it is also preferable to use cleaning cloth such as lens cloth that has ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less is specially designed for wiping function.

EXAMPLES Evaluation Methods (1) Wiping Performance Evaluation

Artificial sebum composed of the following components was prepared and 0.1 g thereof was spread uniformly with a brush over the touch panel of a smart watch. Then, a tester wearing it wiped the touch panel by five repetitions of to-and-fro wiping motion using a sheet-like article attached to a garment and an evaluation was made based on visual observation of the state of the remaining artificial sebum. A specimen that obtained a rating of “∘” was judged as acceptable.

-   ∘: Artificial sebum is not found on the touch panel, suggesting that     it had been wiped off completely. -   ×: Artificial sebum is found remaining on the touch panel. -   Components of artificial sebum: stearic acid (15 parts) -   oleic acid (15 parts) -   extremely hardened oil of beef tallow (15 parts) -   olive oil (15 parts) -   cetyl alcohol (15 parts) -   paraffin (15 parts) -   cholesterol (5 parts)

Example 1

A sheet-like article was prepared by napping and dyeing a piece of nonwoven fabric formed of ultrafine fibers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a fiber diameter of 2 μm containing polyurethane in the interior thereof, and then it was attached to the inside of the left cuff of a 100% cotton shirt to prepare a garment sample (FIG. 1).

After putting on the garment prepared above, a smart watch on which artificial sebum had been spread was put on the left wrist, and the artificial sebum was removed with the right hand by rubbing the screen of the smart watch with the sheet-like article attached to the inside of the left cuff of the shirt. Consequently it was found that none of the artificial sebum spread was left, suggesting that it had been wiped off completely. Furthermore, wiping was performed easily because the sheet-like article was on the inside of the left cuff of the garment. Results are given in Table 1.

Example 2

A sheet-like article was prepared by napping and dyeing a piece of nonwoven fabric formed of ultrafine fibers of PET with a fiber diameter of 5 μm containing polyurethane in the interior thereof, and then it was attached to the inside of the left cuff of a 100% cotton shirt to prepare a garment sample (FIG. 1).

After putting on the garment prepared above, a smart watch on which artificial sebum had been spread was put on the left wrist, and the artificial sebum was removed with the right hand by rubbing the screen of the smart watch with the sheet-like article attached to the inside of the left cuff of the shirt. Consequently it was found that none of the artificial sebum spread was left, suggesting that it had been wiped off completely. Furthermore, wiping was performed easily because the sheet-like article was on the inside of the left cuff of the garment. Results are given in Table 1.

Example 3

A sheet-like article was prepared by napping and dyeing a piece of nonwoven fabric formed of ultrafine fibers of PET with a fiber diameter of 2 μm containing polyurethane in the interior thereof, and then it was attached to the outside of the right cuff of a jacket to prepare a garment sample (FIG. 2).

After putting on the garment prepared above, a smart watch on which artificial sebum had been spread was put on the left wrist, and the artificial sebum was removed by rubbing the screen of the smart watch with the sheet-like article attached to the outside of the right cuff of the shirt. Consequently it was found that none of the artificial sebum spread was left, suggesting that it had been wiped off completely. Furthermore, wiping was performed easily because the sheet-like article was on the outside of the right cuff of the garment. Results are given in Table 1.

Example 4

A piece of Toraysee (registered trademark) MC cleaning cloth (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.), which is a woven fabric formed of ultrafine fibers of PET with a fiber diameter of 2 μm, attached to the inside of the left cuff of a 100% cotton shirt to prepare a garment sample (FIG. 1).

After putting on the garment prepared above, a smart watch on which artificial sebum had been spread was put on the left wrist, and the artificial sebum was removed with the right hand by rubbing the screen of the smart watch with the cleaning cloth attached to the inside of the left cuff of the shirt. Consequently it was found that none of the artificial sebum spread was left, suggesting that it had been wiped off completely. Furthermore, wiping was performed easily because the sheet-like article was on the inside of the left cuff of the garment. Results are given in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1

After putting on a 100% cotton shirt, a smart watch on which artificial sebum had been spread was put on the left wrist, and the artificial sebum was removed with the right hand by rubbing the screen of the smart watch with the inner surface of the left cuff of the shirt. Consequently, some of the artificial sebum spread was found remaining, suggesting that it had not been wiped off completely. Results are given in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Garment Properties of sheet-like article Attachment Average position of monofilament Wiping Type of garment sheet-like article diameter (μm) Constitution performance Example 1 shirt inside of cuff 2 non-woven fabric ∘ Example 2 shirt inside of cuff 5 non-woven fabric ∘ Example 3 jacket outside of cuff 2 non-woven fabric ∘ Example 4 shirt inside of cuff 2 woven fabric ∘ Comparative shirt — — — x Example 1 

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A garment comprising outerwear comprising a sheet-like article formed of ultrafine fibers with an average monofilament diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 7 μm or less and attached to the inside and/or outside of a cuff.
 7. The garment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sheet-like article is attached only inside of a cuff and the garment itself is formed of a material different from that of the sheet-like article.
 8. The garment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sheet-like article is of a nonwoven fabric having ultrafine fibers and containing a polymeric elastomer in the interior thereof.
 9. The garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the polymeric elastomer is one containing polyurethane as primary component, the polyurethane being a polycarbonate based polyurethane.
 10. The garment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sheet-like article is adapted to wipe off dirt.
 11. The garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sheet-like article is of a nonwoven fabric having ultrafine fibers and containing a polymeric elastomer in the interior thereof.
 12. The garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sheet-like article is adapted to wipe off dirt.
 13. The garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sheet-like article is adapted to wipe off dirt.
 14. The garment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet-like article is adapted to wipe off dirt. 